STEVEN Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino could be about to home in on Little Hulton, as a pair of entrepreneurs prepare to turn the town into a huge film village.

Webb Lighting's Ken Sykes and Bob Horsefield have big plans for the derelict Alpine Soft Drinks site next to their Ravenscraig Road headquarters.

They have bought the old factory, and plan to turn all 30,000 sq ft into one of the country's biggest studios, rivalling Pinewood and Shepperton, where they say producers will be able to film commercials, TV dramas and even feature-length movies.

But this is only the start, as the pair are setting up another studio on land between the factory and their HQ, and also plan to build at least another two studios nearby.

When the £1m project is completed, Little Hulton will be home to a huge film village, used by producers and providing jobs for people ranging from lighting and sound engineers, to builders, plumbers and caterers.

Building work is due to start in 12 weeks and the two entrepreneurs believe some studios will be up and running in a matter of months, when at least four companies are waiting to move in.

It has been a long time coming for Ken and Bob, whose company has been based in Little Hulton for 12 years.

They have been planning to set up the film village for over three years and even got auditors KPMG to carry out a feasibility study, which they say showed it was a worthwhile venture.

Ken and Bob both have 30 years experience in the film industry, and their existing studio is regularly used by producers.

Scenes from the hit series Queer As Folk and Badger were recently filmed there, while they have also been involved in making Dead Ringers, Burn It, Silent Witness, and the new Christopher Eccleston film Revenger's Tragedy.

Ken told us: "There's a lot of potential in the North West. We're very film friendly whereas London is increasingly not. But the problem is there's a lack of facilities here.

"Film companies spend a lot of money, they create a lot of work and a lot of local businesses benefit. This will be brilliant for Little Hulton and for the North West."